UREBHEKA ubuka amagquma nezintaba ezimzungezile njengoba kuya kuhwalala. Ngemva kwamasonto esendleleni, wayeseqala ukujwayela ukuhlala phezu komhlane wekamela. Wayeseqhele ngamakhulu amakhilomitha eHarana ayekhulele kuyo, elibangise enyakatho-mpumalanga. Kungenzeka wayengeke aphinde awubone umndeni wakubo. Ngokuqinisekile wayezibuza imibuzo eminingi ngekusasa lakhe—ikakhulukazi manje njengoba esondela endaweni aya kuyo.

Udwendwe lwase ludlule ingxenye enkulu yeKhanani futhi lunqamula iNegebhi. (Genesise 24:62) Mhlawumbe uRebheka wabona izimvu. Kungenzeka leli zwe liyihlane kakhulu futhi kungaba nzima ukulima indawo enkulu, kodwa linamadlelo anele okondla imfuyo. Umuntu osekhulile owayemhola wayeyijwayele le ndawo. Wayeyiphathele izindaba ezinhle inkosi yakhe—uRebheka wayezoba inkosikazi ka-Isaka! Nokho, kungenzeka uRebheka wayezibuza ukuthi wayezophila ukuphila okunjani kuleli zwe. Ungumuntu onjani umkhwenyana wakhe, u-Isaka? Babengakaze babonane! Wayezojabula yini lapho embona? URebheka yena wayezozizwa kanjani lapho embona?

Ezingxenyeni eziningi zomhlaba namuhla, imishado ehleliwe ingase ibonakale iyinqaba. Nokho, kwezinye izindawo imishado enjalo ivamile. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi uhlala kuphi, ungase uvume ukuthi uRebheka wayengazi ukuthi alindeleni. Empeleni wayengowesifazane onesibindi nokholo olubabazekayo. Sizidinga zombili lezi zimfanelo lapho kwenzeka izinguquko ekuphileni kwethu. Kukhona nezinye izimfanelo ezinhle nezingavamile ezihlotshaniswa nokholo lukaRebheka.

Ushintsho olukhulu olwenzeka ekuphileni kukaRebheka lwaqala ngendlela eyayibonakala ivamile kuye. Wakhulela eHarana noma eduze kwakhona, okuyidolobha laseMesophothamiya. Abazali bakhe babengafani nabantu abaningi baseHarana. Babengamkhulekeli unkulunkulu wenyanga uSin. Kunalokho, uNkulunkulu wabo kwakunguJehova.—Genesise 24:50.

URebheka wakhula waba owesifazane omuhle kakhulu, kodwa wayengagcini ngokuba muhle ngaphandle kuphela. Wayenomoya omuhle futhi eziphethe kahle. Umndeni wakubo wawucebile futhi unezinceku, kodwa uRebheka wayengatotoswa noma aphathiswe okwendlovukazi; wafundiswa ukusebenza ngenkuthalo. Njengabesifazane abaningi bangaleso sikhathi, uRebheka wayenza imisebenzi yasekhaya enzima ehlanganisa ukukhelela abakubo amanzi. Ngesikhathi sakusihlwa, wayetshatha imbiza yamanzi aye emthonjeni.—Genesise 24:11, 15, 16.

Ngolunye usuku kusihlwa, ngemva kokugcwalisa imbiza yakhe, kweza kuye indoda esikhulile. Yathi kuye: “Ngicela ungiphuzise kancane amanzi embizeni yakho.” Kwakuyisicelo esenziwe ngomoya ophansi! URebheka wabona ukuthi le ndoda ivela kude. Ngokushesha wehlisa imbiza yakhe, wanika le ndoda ukuba iphuze, hhayi nje ukuyiqhabulisa; kodwa wayinika yaphuza yaze yadela. Waqaphela ukuthi amakamela ayishumi ayeguqe eduze kwakhe ayomile, nokuthi amanzi ayengekho emkhombeni. Wabona ukuthi amehlo ale ndoda enomusa ayelokhu ethe njó kuye futhi wayefuna ukusiza ngokusemandleni. Ngakho wathi: “Namakamela akho ngizowakhelela amanzi aze aqede ukuphuza.”—Genesise 24:17-19.

Phawula ukuthi uRebheka akazange nje akhe amanzi azophuzwa amakamela ayishumi, kodwa wakha amanzi ayezowaphuza aze adele. Uma lome kakhulu, ikamela elilodwa lingaphuza amalitha angaphezu kwangu-95 amanzi! Ukube amakamela ayishumi ayome ngaleyo ndlela, uRebheka wayezokha amanzi amahora  amaningi. Kodwa kubonakala sengathi amakamela ayengomile kakhulu. * Kodwa ingabe uRebheka wayekwazi lokho ngaphambi kokuba athi uzokhela amakamela amanzi? Cha. Wayenesifiso futhi ezimisele ukusebenza kanzima kuye ngesidingo ukuze asize le ndoda esikhulile. Le ndoda yavuma ukuba enze lokho. Yabe isimbuka ngokucophelela njengoba ehla enyuka egcwalisa imbiza ngokuphindaphindiwe ephuzisa amakamela.—Genesise 24:20, 21.

Isibonelo sikaRebheka siwusizo olukhulu kithi. Siphila ezweni eligcwele abantu abanobugovu. Njengoba kwabikezelwa, abantu ‘bayazithanda,’ abazimisele ukusiza abanye. (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5) AmaKristu alwisana nalowo moya, enza kahle ngokucabanga ngalona wesifazane oseBhayibhelini, owayeya ephindelela emthonjeni.

Ngokuqinisekile uRebheka wabona ukuthi le ndoda endala imbhekile. Yayingambuki ngendlela engafanele; yayimbuka ngendlela ebonisa ukumangala, ukwazisa nokujabula. Ekugcineni, lapho uRebheka eqeda, le ndoda yamnika izipho—ubucwebe obuyigugu! Yabe isibuza: “Uyindodakazi kabani? Ngicela ungitshele. Ingabe ikhona indawo esingalala kuyo endlini kayihlo?” Lapho eyitshela ngomndeni wakubo, le ndoda yajabula nakakhulu. Mhlawumbe ngenxa yenjabulo, uRebheka wanezela: “Sinakho kokubili utshani nefolishi eliningi, kanye nendawo yokulala”—okuyinto ephawulekayo ngoba le ndoda yayihamba nabanye abantu. Ngemva kwalokho uRebheka wagijima wahamba phambili wayobika kunina ngalokho okwakusanda kwenzeka.—Genesise 24:22-28, 32.

Kuyacaca ukuthi uRebheka wayefundiswe kahle ukungenisa izihambi. Lena ngenye imfanelo ebonakala ishabalala—futhi lesi esinye isizathu sokulingisa ukholo lwalona wesifazane osemusha. Ukholo kuNkulunkulu kufanele lusenze sibe nesandla esivulekile. UJehova unesandla esivulekile ngoba upha wonke umuntu futhi ufuna abakhulekeli bakhe benze okufanayo. Lapho sinesandla esivulekile ngisho nakubantu abangeke bakwazi ukusipha izinto, sijabulisa uBaba wethu osezulwini.—Mathewu 5:44-46; 1 Petru 4:9.

Yayingubani indoda esemthonjeni? Yayiyinceku ka-Abrahama, umfowabo kamkhulu kaRebheka. Ngakho, yemukelwa ekhaya likaBhetuweli, ubaba kaRebheka. Kungenzeka le nceku yayingu-Eliyezeri. * Kulowo muzi bayinika ukudla, kodwa yenqaba ukudla ngaphambi kokuba ichaze lokho eyayize ngakho. (Genesise 24:31-33) Singase siyibone ngeso lengqondo ikhuluma ngenkulu intokozo njengoba yayisanda kubona ubufakazi obunamandla bokuthi uNkulunkulu wayo, uJehova, wayeyibusisile esabelweni sayo esibalulekile. Kanjani?

Ake umbone ngeso lengqondo u-Eliyezeri elandisa udaba lwakhe njengoba ubaba kaRebheka, uBhetuweli, kanye nomfowabo uLabani belalele ngokucophelela. Wabatshela ukuthi uJehova wayembusise kakhulu u-Abrahama eKhanani nokuthi u-Abrahama noSara babenendodana, u-Isaka, owayezosala nalo lonke ifa likayise. U-Abrahama wayenike inceku yakhe isabelo esibalulekile: Kwakumelwe ifunele u-Isaka inkosikazi ezihlotsheni zika-Abrahama eHarana.—Genesise 24:34-38.

U-Abrahama wenza u-Eliyezeri wafunga ukuthi ngeke akhethele u-Isaka inkosikazi phakathi kwabesifazane baseKhanani. Kungani? Kungoba amaKhanani ayengamhloniphi futhi engamkhulekeli uJehova uNkulunkulu. U-Abrahama wayazi ukuthi ngesikhathi esifanele uJehova wayehlose ukujezisa labo bantu ngenxa yemikhuba yabo emibi. U-Abrahama wayengafuni ukuba indodana yakhe ayithandayo, u-Isaka, izihlanganise nalabo bantu nezindlela zabo ezimbi. Wayazi nokuthi indodana yakhe, yayizofeza indima ebalulekile ekugcwaliseni izithembiso zikaNkulunkulu.—Genesise 15:16; 17:19; 24:2-4.

U-Eliyezeri waqhubeka wabachazela ukuthi lapho efika emthonjeni eduze neHarana, wathandaza kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Empeleni wacela uJehova ukuba akhethe owesifazane osemusha owayezoshada no-Isaka. Kanjani? U-Eliyezeri wacela ukuba uNkulunkulu aqikelele ukuthi intombazane ayefuna ukuba ishade no-Isaka iza emthonjeni. Lapho eyicela okokuphuza, kufanele ingagcini nje ngokuzimisela ukunika u-Eliyezeri okokuphuza kodwa kufanele iphuzise namakamela akhe. (Genesise 24:12-14) Ubani-ke oweza futhi wenza lokho kanye? URebheka! Cabanga indlela ayeyozizwa ngayo uma ayengezwa indaba u-Eliyezeri ayeyilandisa emalungwini omndeni wakhe!

UBhetuweli noLabani bathinteka lapho bezwa le ndaba. Bathi: “Le nto ivela kuJehova.” Ngokuvumelana nesiko langaleso sikhathi, benza isivumelwano somshado, uRebheka waba ingoduso ka-Isaka. (Genesise 24:50-54) Kodwa, ingabe lokho kusho ukuthi umbono kaRebheka wawungabalulekile kule ndaba?

Emasontweni ambalwa ngaphambili, u-Eliyezeri wawubuza lowo mbuzo ku-Abrahama, wathi: “Kuthiwani uma lowo wesifazane engavumi ukuza nami?” U-Abrahama waphendula: “Ngaleso sikhathi uyokhululeka esibophweni ozibophe ngaso.” (Genesise 24:39, 41) Nasendlini kaBhetuweli, wawubalulekile umbono wale ntokazi. U-Eliyezeri wayejabule kakhulu ngendlela uhambo lwakhe olwaluphumelele ngayo, kangangokuba ngosuku olulandelayo wacela ukuphindela eKhanani ngokushesha noRebheka. Nokho, umndeni wakubo wawufuna ukuba uRebheka ahlale nabo okungenani izinsuku eziyishumi. Ekugcineni, baxazulula le ndaba ngale ndlela: “Masiyibize intombi sizwe ngomlomo wayo.”—Genesise 24:57.

Manje uRebheka kwakumelwe akhethe. Wayezothini? Ingabe wayezodlala ngomusa kayise nomfowabo, ababemncenga ukuba angasheshi ahambe? Noma ingabe wayezokubheka njengelungelo ukuba nengxenye ezenzakalweni ngokusobala ezaziqondiswa uJehova? Lapho ephendula, wabonisa indlela ayezizwa ngayo ngalolu shintsho oluzumayo. Kalula nje wathi: “Ngizimisele ukuhamba.”—Genesise 24:58.

Yeka umoya omuhle ayenawo! Namuhla, kungenzeka indlela esenza ngayo imishado ihluke ngokuphelele, kodwa singafunda lukhulu kuRebheka. Okwakubaluleke kakhulu kuye kwakuwukwenza intando kaJehova uNkulunkulu, hhayi intando yakhe. Nanamuhla, iBhayibheli lisasinika iseluleko esingcono kakhulu endabeni yomshado—ngokuphathelene nomuntu omkhethayo nendlela ongaba ngayo umyeni noma inkosikazi ekahle. (2 Korinte 6:14, 15; Efesu 5:28-33) Senza kahle lapho silingisa isibonelo sikaRebheka futhi sifune ukwenza izinto ngendlela kaNkulunkulu.

Umndeni kaBhetuweli wambusisa uRebheka. Ngemva kwalokho, uRebheka noDebora owayengumzanyana wakhe, kanye nezinye izincekukazi bahamba no-Eliyezeri namadoda ayehamba nawo. (Genesise 24:59-61; 35:8) Kungakabiphi, base belishiye ngemuva iHarana. Lwalulude uhambo, lungamakhilomitha angaba ngu-800 futhi bahamba amasonto amathathu. Cishe kwakungelona uhambo olulula. URebheka wayejwayele ukuwabona amakamela, kodwa ngeke siphethe ngokuthi wayejwayele ukuwagibela. IBhayibheli limchaza njengomalusi wezimvu, hhayi njengomthengisi owayeqhuba amakamela amaningi. (Genesise 29:10) Abantu abangakujwayele ukugibela ikamela ngokuvamile bakhala ngokuhlukumezeka—ngisho noma beligibele isikhashana nje.

Yize kunjalo, uRebheka wayebheke phambili futhi ezama ukuthola ulwazi oluningi ngangokunokwenzeka ngo-Isaka nomndeni wakubo. Yibone ngeso lengqondo le ndoda esikhulile, njengoba behlezi emlilweni kusihlwa, ichazela uRebheka ngesithembiso uJehova asenza kumngane waKhe u-Abrahama. UNkulunkulu wayeyoveza inzalo okwakuyobusiswa ngayo bonke abantu ohlwini lozalo luka-Abrahama. Cabanga indlela uRebheka ayemangele ngayo njengoba eqaphela ukuthi isithembiso sikaJehova sasizogcwaliseka ngo-Isaka owayezoba ngumyeni wakhe—okusho ukuthi sasizogcwaliseka nangaye!—Genesise 22:15-18.

Ekugcineni, lwafika usuku esikhulume ngalo ekuqaleni kwalesi sihloko. Njengoba udwendwe lunqamula eNegebhi futhi sekuhwalala, uRebheka wabona indoda ihamba esigangeni. Yayibukeka icabanga, izindla. Siyafunda: “Wayesehla ekamelini,”—kungenzeka akazange alilinde ikamela ukuba liguqe—wabe esebuza ayehamba naye: “Ubani leya ndoda ehamba esigangeni izosihlangabeza?” Lapho ezwa ukuthi kwakungu-Isaka, wamboza ikhanda lakhe ngeduku. (Genesise 24:62-65) Kungani? Kuyacaca ukuthi leso kwakuyisenzo esibonisa inhlonipho ngomuntu owayezoba umyeni wakhe. Leyo ndlela yokuzithoba ingabonakala iyisidala kwabanye namuhla. Kodwa eqinisweni, abesilisa nabesifazane bangafunda ekuzithobeni kukaRebheka, ngoba ngempela, ubani kithi ongayidingi le mfanelo ethandekayo?

U-Isaka owayeneminyaka engaba ngu-40, wayesabuzwa ubuhlungu bokushonelwa unina, uSara, okwase kuphele iminyaka emithathu eshonile. Singase siphethe ngokuthi u-Isaka wayeyindoda enesisa. U-Isaka wabusiswa ngempela ngokuthola inkosikazi ekhuthele, enesandla esivulekile nethobekile! Kwenzekani lapho behlangana? IBhayibheli lisho ngokucacile: “Wamthanda.”—Genesise 24:67; 26:8.

Ngisho noma sekudlule amakhulu angu-39 eminyaka, kulula ngathi ukuthanda uRebheka. Ngokuzenzakalelayo, sivele sikhangwe isibindi sakhe, ukukhuthala kwakhe, ukupha kwakhe kanye nokuthobeka kwakhe. Sonke—abancane nabadala, abesilisa nabesifazane, abashadile nabangashadile—senza kahle ngokulingisa ukholo lwakhe!